Command and Control (C2) and Data Handling (U)

(U) S&TW data handling and dissemination is performed through an integrated threat warning and attack assessment (ITW/AA) system, which includes command centers, correlation centers, intelligence indicators and communications systems. There are three primary basic warning missions: Ballistic Missile Warning, Air Warning and Space Warning.

(U) The Ballistic Warning Mission is supported by radar warning sensors (for example, BMEWS and PAVE PAWS) and infra-red systems (DSP) that send discrete and summary messages to the Missile Warning Centers (MWCs) at Cheyenne Mountain and Offutt Air Force Base and to forward users via multiple paths. These paths include commercial high speed, JRSC and in the future Milstar circuits.

(U) The Survivable Communications Integration System (SCIS) ensures message survivability. The Communication Segment System Replacement (CSSR) at the MWCs validates and routes the messages to the Command Center Processing Display System Replacement (CCPDS-R). The CCPDS-R correlates information. This correlated information containing launch and impact data is routed back to CSSR and sent to forward users using SCIS. Forward users also receive the discrete and summary messages originating from sensor sites. As a result, decision makers at forward user sites receive warning messages and uncorrelated sensor data to aid in the decision making process.

(U) The Air Warning Mission provides the Air Defense coverage for North America and air sovereignty of Canada and the United States. The atmospheric mission consists of providing warning and assessment of air attacks against North America. Specifically, it includes the detection and tracking of potentially hostile or unknown aircraft entering the air defense identification zones and the direction of interceptors used against intruders should circumstances warrant. Atmospheric Integrated TW/AA sensors provide data through the Regional Air Operations Center (RAOC) and the Sector Air Operations Center (SAOC) through the Communications System Segment Replacement (CSSR) at Cheyenne Mountain Air Station (CMAS) to the Granite Sentry (GS) Message Processing Subsystem (MPS). The GS MPS also receives and processes reports on NUDETs from the RAOC and SAOC and from NUDET sensors in support of the Operational Planning Staff (OPS). OPS is concerned with Environmental Hazards (ENHAZ) after an attack on the NORAD defended area and has a primary mission of post attack damage assessment. The display information is used to determine where the NORAD defended area has been attacked and assesses the damage. OPS also provides inputs to the Fallout Assessment System (FAS).